If money is tight, you might qualify for fuel aid

Monday

Sep 30, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By Ella Nilsenenilsen@fosters.com

DOVER — Dropping temperatures mean it’s time for people across the state to start filling up their fuel tanks. For those who are struggling to pay for fuel, community action partnerships in New Hampshire and Maine are encouraging locals to see if they qualify for state fuel assistance.

“It’s not cold yet, but it’s going to get cold,” said Brad Bohon, communications director for York County Community Action in Maine. “There’s nothing I worry about more than someone not knowing about our program.”

Both Bohon and Brandi Bobusia, outreach services manager at Community Action Partnership of Strafford County in Dover, stressed people unsure if they are eligible for fuel assistance should call with questions and apply. According to Bobusia, people commonly assume they are ineligible.

“Just come ask questions,” she said. “There are other programs that help someone if fuel assistance can’t. You really don’t know until you sit with somebody.”

N.H. Fuel Assistance Program Manager Celeste Lovett echoed those sentiments, encouraging state residents to apply early in the season.

“As we get closer to (December), it could take longer for people to apply,” Lovett said. “Now is a good time. The only way someone knows they’re eligible is to apply.”

Lovett noted federal assistance money has dwindled each year, forcing the state to lower its eligibility guidelines. Currently, maximum gross household income is at 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline. That means a family of four making $46,100 per year is eligible.

The state’s fuel assistance program helped 36,805 households last winter with grants totaling approximately $24.3 million. This compares to a $50.9 million grant total in 2009. Lovett said the large amount of grant money in 2009 was directly in response to high oil prices and the state was able to raise eligibility guidelines.

“That year, we were able to provide benefits to much more people,” said Lovett. Since then, “we’ve had to keep guidelines lower.”

However, she said she believed the program would be able to assist the same amount of households this year as last year.

According to Bobusia, Community Action Partnership of Strafford County helped 3,564 eligible households last year, out of approximately 4,200 applicants.

Most households can apply for fuel assistance starting Sept. 1, and households with elderly, disabled persons and/or children under the age of six can apply starting July 1. These groups can apply earlier to ensure the most vulnerable people can get assistance with heating.

“We want to make sure we serve them first,” said Bohon.

While it is still early in the season, Bohon projected the number of York County applications to be similar to last year. The number of applications last year was 5,276, of which 74 percent, or 3,914 were eligible. The average grant per family was $577.

“The number of applications is not different from usual,” he said, “which means we’re busy.”

Bohon said the number of York County applications has generally declined from years 2008-2010. Lovett said there was a similar trend in New Hampshire, adding it isn’t clear why this is happening.

“It could be that low-income people could be moving in with other people,” she said, adding another reason could be people are unsure whether or not they qualify for fuel assistance.

Lovett noted she has received lots of calls this year from people who have never been on the program, and Bobusia said that in Strafford County, people are increasingly aware of the program.

“There is such a need with the rising cost of fuel,” Bobusia said. “More people are in need.”